Categories
Gear Shortcuts

Check iPhone Duo Availability with this Apple Store shortcut

If you’re looking to check for iPhone Duo availability at your local Apple Store, check out the dedicated shortcut available in the Apple Store app – or get it here from my Shortcuts Library.

Currently, Apple’s iPhone Duo has a delivery wait time until January 25 – three full months out. However, local Apple Stores are getting inventory on a rolling basis, meaning the best way to get an iPhone Duo is checking the Apple Store app regularly for new inventory.

During the ordering process, once you’ve selected your model, upgrades, cell plan, and Apple Care, above Continue you’ll see the option to “Show delivery and pickup details.”

From there, you can see the next delivery options, or pick-up details. If there is no stock at your local store, you’ll see “Currently unavailable” and the option to “Check another store.”

Once you tap “Check another store,” you’ll be taken to an iPhone Availability screen where you check different models, different stores, or switch to deliver. In the middle, however, you’ll see “Create a Siri Shortcut to check product availability” with an “Add to Siri” button.

Tap that, then press Done to save the shortcut, or press Change Voice Phrase to switch from “Hey Siri, check to see the availability of this product” to your own custom phrase, or press “Edit in Shortcuts” to open it directly in the Shortcuts app.

When run, the shortcut reads “Here are the details for the availability of your item,” plus shows a visual snippet of the device model, “pick up near you,” and delivery dates.

I recommend giving the shortcut a custom name like “Check iPhone Duo availability” and seeing whether your preferred choice is in stock a few times a day for a better chance at getting one – I’ll be doing the same.

If you get an iPhone Duo using this method, let me know!

Get the shortcut in the Apple Store folder in my Shortcuts Library.

Categories
Shortcuts

Updated in the Shortcuts Library: Apple Store shortcuts

I’ve just updated a folder in the Shortcuts Library — my set of Apple Store shortcuts accounting for the new actions available in the app:

  • Check iPhone Duo availability: Checks the Apple Store app for in-stock availability from your nearest store.
  • Track my order: Opens the Apple Store app to the Orders page where you can see the status of your most recent purchases.
  • Get Support: Opens the Apple Store app to the Support page where you can call, start a message, or request a repair.
  • Compare iPhones: Opens the Apple Store app to the Compare page where you can select a model to compare against your own device.
  • Get iPhone Recommendation: Opens the Apple Store app to the iPhone purchase page.
  • View iPhone Duo: Opens the iPhone Duo page in the Apple Store app.
  • Check iPhone Duo Price: Opens the Apple Store app to the iPhone purchase page.
  • Find iPhone Model Names: Gets the list of current iPhone models, passes it into Choose From List, and opens to the device of your choice.
  • View AirPods: Opens the AirPods purchase page in the Apple Store app.

Plus, my previous set:

  • Check my order status: Review the current status of your recent Apple Store order. This shortcut works with the Apple Store app to see where your latest order is at — order placed, shipping, out for delivery, etc.
  • Set a preorder alarm: This shortcut Asks you to enter a time and sets an alarm called “Apple Preorder.”
  • See my Apple Store bag: Opens the “Bag” checkout page for the Apple Store. Use this shortcut to reopen your Apple Store “cart” and see the subtotal or add/remove items before checking out.
  • See Apple Store saved items: Opens the deep link into the Saved Items section of the Apple Store.
  • Open Apple Store product page: Asks you to pick an Apple product category, then opens the deep link into the Apple Store online.
  • Open Apple Store online: Visit Apple.com/store to order products on the web.
  • Open Apple Store app: Opens the native Apple Store app for iPhone and iPad. Use this shortcut to access Apple’s store page, nearby Sessions, your orders, search, and your bag, plus your account.

Check out the folder of Apple Store shortcuts on the Shortcuts Library.

Categories
Links

iPhone Duo adds a Shortcuts automation for When Duo is Opened and Closed

From Stephen Robles (@stephenrobles) on X:

Plus from Viticci:

You love to see it. I’ll have to start brainstorming Hinge automations.

View Stephen’s post on X and Federico’s post on X

Categories
Links

How to use Grok Bot with the Action Button on iPhone

From matt palmer (@mattyp) on X:

View the post on X.

Categories
Links Newsletter Offsite

Shortcuts is S-Tier: The Definitive iPhone Action Button Ranking

From What’s New in Apple Intelligence on Substack:

On Saturday, I saw the following post come across my feed ranking the iPhone action button options: […]

I made my own iPhone action button tier ranking for this issue – and after I posted it on X, it also went viral with over 4 million views.

Read the full issue on Substack.

Categories
Links Newsletter Offsite

Apple HomeView: The At-Home Test for Siri AI

From What’s New in Apple Intelligence on Substack:

In this issue, I’ve curated a huge variety of articles and community reactions to the  HomeView announcements, plus my quick take at the end: […]

Read the full issue on Substack.

Categories
Apps Membership

New Member Discount: Get AppDab For 50% Off The First Year

Hello members (and future members)! I am excited to announce a new Partner addition to my Membership – AppDab!

Built by Morten at Atterdag Apps, AppDab lets you manage your apps and all the resources around them, whether that is builds, testers, certificates, devices, or provisioning profiles. Here’s how it’s described:

With AppDab you can manage your apps and all the resources around it, be it builds, testers, certificates, devices or provisioning profiles.

AppDab is offering 50% off your first year of AppDab Intelligence to active members – here’s the summary:

Manage your App Store Connect and Apple Developer resources in one place, with support for builds, testers, certificates, devices, and provisioning profiles. AppDab also continues to expand its support for Siri Shortcuts, the CLI, and MCP.

My thanks to Morten for participating – I’m excited to see what you build with a smoother App Store Connect workflow!

Learn more about the Membership, learn about AppDab, get AppDab on the App Store, or sign up for a membership below:

Check out the members-only Discounts page for AppDab’s redemption link in the App Store.

Interested in becoming a partner? Register your app or service here.

Categories
Apps Membership

New Member Discount: Get Pop Out Timer For The First Year Free

Hello members (and future members)! I am excited to announce a new Partner addition to my Membership – Pop Out Timer!

Built from developer Jeremy Provost, Pop Out Timer for iPhone & iPad lets you, well, pop out a timer and use it in picture-in-picture across the OS – plus features 11 different shortcuts for controlling timers, stopwatches, and pomodoros. Here’s how it’s described on the App Store:

Pop Out Timer uses picture-in-picture to provide an always on-screen, floating timer, stopwatch, pomodoro, or clock. Perfect for presentations, workouts, cooking, studying, or any task that needs precise timing while using a full-screen app.

While in picture-in-picture you can move the window around to any corner, flick it off screen, or resize with a pinch.

Pop Out Timer is generously offering the first year of the subscription free, saving you $3.99 while giving you Pop Out Timer for a full year.

My thanks to Jeremy for participating – make sure to check out the app and get your free subscription!

Learn more about the Membership,get Pop Out Timer on the App Store, or sign up for a membership below:

Check out the members-only Discounts page for Pop Out Timer’s redemption link to the App Store.

Interested in becoming a partner? Register your app or service here.

Categories
Apps Membership Offsite Video

New video: Membership discounts on great Shortcuts apps!

From yours truly on YouTube:

I’m excited to share a new addition to my membership program – discounts on great apps with Shortcuts support.

Sign up for the membership program.

Current apps:

  • Together Board
  • Plinky
  • Paku
  • Progress
  • Tasks
  • MindNode
  • Cuevello
  • One Sec
  • Auralog
  • Pop Out Timer
  • Email Me
  • Monologue

See the full Shortcuts Catalog.
Browse the Shortcuts Library.
Check out the Action Directory.

Check out the launch announcement post and watch the video on YouTube.

Categories
Apps Membership

New Member Discount: Get Monologue For Three Months Free

Hello members (and future members)! I am excited to announce a new Partner addition to my Membership – Monologue (part of Every)!

Built from developer Naveen Naidu and designed by Lucas Fischer, Monologue for iPhone & Apple as well as Mac lets you dictate freely with great access points and a retro design – plus capture using Shortcuts. Here’s how it’s described on the App Store:

Monologue is voice dictation that writes the way you talk-so your messages, emails, and notes come out clear, polished, and sounding like you.

Write what you meant to say

Most dictation apps get the words down. Monologue gets the intent right-matching your tone (casual, professional, or anything in between) and cleaning up the “uhs,” filler, and awkward phrasing automatically.

Monologue is offering 3 months free off the annual subscription of $144/year, saving you $43.20 while giving you smart dictation for a full year – here’s the summary:

Turn speech into clean text anywhere — dictation, voice notes, and bot-free meeting notes for Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. 100+ languages, works offline, agent-ready. Members get 30% off Monologue Pro’s annual plan for the first year.

My thanks to Naveen for participating – Monologue has been active on my Mac since the day I bought it in February, so I highly recommend it.

Learn more about the Membership, learn about Monologue,get Monologue on the App Store, or sign up for a membership below:

Check out the members-only Discounts page for Monologue’s redemption link.

Interested in becoming a partner? Register your app or service here.

Categories
Links

Zuckerberg: The Future is for Everyone (The Path to a Positive AI Future) »

Mark Zuckerberg has posted a long manifesto about his views on AI (about a 33-minute read according to Instapaper):

Here’s the opening:

We are fortunate to live at an incredible moment in history. In the next few years, people will be able to use superintelligence beyond human capacity to create and discover extraordinary new things, build new businesses, express new ideas, learn new concepts, and advance our health and quality of life. As we get closer to this moment, it is important to develop a philosophy for how we can best use superintelligence to ensure it improves all of our lives, work, communities, freedom and safety.

The defining questions of our age are who will have access to superintelligence and what will we direct it towards. Will it be centralized and restricted to a few institutions, or will it be a tool that empowers everyone?

We propose a philosophy based on individual empowerment as the source of prosperity, invention as the primary purpose of superintelligence, and balance of power as the foundation of safety.

Read the manifesto on the Meta site and follow Zuck as @finkd on X.

Categories
Apps Membership

New Member Discount: Get Email Me For Three Months Free

Hello members (and future members)! I am excited to announce a new Partner addition to my Membership – Email Me!

Built from developer Manuel Escrig , Email Me for iPhone is a self-explanatory app for the common pattern of emailing yourself. Here’s how it’s described on the site:

The fastest capture a thought by voice or text.

Record a voice memo, let AI transcribe it, and send it straight to your inbox.

Note to self, evolved.

Manuel is offering 3 months free on top of the annual subscription of $12.99/year, saving you ~$3.25 while giving you Email Me for those three months, plus another year. Here’s how he describes the Shortcuts support:

Email Me Note, Email Note to Recipient, Quick Note, Email Me Reminder Text, Email Me Last Image, Create Text Note and Create Audio Note.

Background sending: Sending actions don’t need to open the app. Trigger them from Siri, an Automation, the Lock Screen or a locked device. Notes are queued and sent silently, with spoken confirmation.

Siri support: Use phrases such as “Email Me Note,” “Quick Note,” or “Send a note with Email Me to [recipient].”

Control Center, Lock Screen and Action Button: On iOS 18 or later, add one-tap controls for text notes, audio notes, clipboard notes, the last photo, document scanning and the camera.

Automations: Actions can be combined with other apps or triggered by time, location, Focus mode or NFC tags. For example: “When I leave work, email me my clipboard.”

Share Sheet: Send text, photos and files from other apps directly through the iOS Share Sheet and Actions menu.

My thanks to Manuel for participating!

Learn more about the Membership, learn about Email Me,get Email Me on the App Store, or sign up for a membership below:

Check out the members-only Discounts page for Email Me’s redemption link to the App Store.

Interested in becoming a partner? Register your app or service here.

Categories
Links

MacRumors: Apple Briefly Posts China Guide for Connecting Siri to Qwen AI »

Hartley Charlton from MacRumors, reporting on a story from Reuters about a now-removed guide on Apple’s website:

Reuters first spotted the Chinese-language guide on Apple’s support site on August 8, which explained how eligible Mac users in mainland China could connect Qwen, Alibaba’s family of generative AI models, to ‌Siri‌ and Writing Tools. According to the document, the extension required macOS 26.6 or later, needed users to sign into their own Qwen account, and specified that Alibaba was barred from using submitted materials to train or improve its models.

‌Siri‌ would be able to lean on Qwen for more detailed responses to certain requests, including analysis of photos and documents, while Writing Tools could use it to generate text and images. No equivalent guide was published for the iPhone or iPad.

Read the story on MacRumors and read the report from Reuters.

Categories
Shortcuts

What’s New in Shortcuts in iOS 27 Beta 5

Apple has a new splash screen for Shortcuts in iOS 27 beta 5 that covers the three major updates to the app: Describe a Shortcut, Broad World Knowledge (in Use Model), and Unified Automations:

What’s New in Shortcuts

Describe a Shortcut

Describe what you want to do and Shortcuts will assemble all the actions for you. All of your shortcuts are summarized automatically using Apple Intelligence.

Broad World Knowledge

The Use Model action can now get up-to-date information on anything in your shortcut using the web.

Unified Automations

Automations are now built directly into your shortcuts, including the ones you share. To create an automation, tap the Add button.

I appreciate the extra clarity around Automations, which isn’t otherwise obvious inside the app – many people thought their automations disappeared.

Get the beta for iOS 27 beta 5.

Categories
Apps Membership

New Discount: Get Auralog For 50% Off The First Year

Hello members (and future members)! I am excited to announce a new Partner addition to my Membership – Auralog!

Built from developer Adrian Eves, Auralog for iPhone lets you track migraines, log triggers, and see what conditions put you at risk for another migraine – plus, I helped Adrian with his Shortcuts integration. Here’s how it’s described on the App Store:

The effortless way to beat migraines. Zero effort logging. Maximum insight. Each migraine you track keeps the next one at bay. The smartest migraine app ever built.

Auralog helps you take control of your migraine and headache history without extra hassle – even in the middle of an attack.

Adrian is offering 50% off the annual subscription of $19.99/year, saving you $9.99 while giving you Auralog for a full year. My thanks to Adrian for participating – please test the Shortcuts support and send us feedback!

Learn more about the Membership, learn about Auralog,get Auralog on the App Store, or sign up for a membership below:

Check out the members-only Discounts page for Auralog’s redemption link to the App Store.

Interested in becoming a partner? Register your app or service here.

Categories
Announcements

Conference: I Am Speaking At NSSpain 2026 On Siri AI

Hello folks – I am pleased to announce that I’ve been accepted to NSSpain 2026 as a conference speaker, kicking off a track around Siri AI with my talk “Preparing Your App for Siri AI: App Intents Deep Dive.” This wonderful iOS developer conference is hosted in Logrono, Spain from September 16-18 and you can get your tickets here.

I’ll be walking through the API using my custom framework, expanding on what’s new in iOS 27, and giving you practical takeaways for implementing App Intents in your apps.

Previously, I spoke at NSSpain 2024 when Apple Intelligence was originally announced, and now these features are finally releasing in full as part of Siri AI.

If you’re still considering going, buy a ticket today and book your flights ASAP – the conference is just before the city’s annual Rioja Wine Harvest Festival, so it’s both an incredible trip and you’ll learn everything you need to know to get ready for Siri AI.

See you at NSSpain!

P.S. Check out the 2025 talks on YouTube, featuring “You can just do things” from Peter Steinberger just a few months before he released OpenClaw.

Categories
Apps Membership

New Member Discount: Get One Sec For Three Months Free

Hello members (and future members)! I am excited to announce a new Partner addition to my Membership – One Sec!

Built from developer Frederik Riedel, One Sec for iPhone & iPad(as well as Android and Web) lets you delay opening apps with a Screen Time blocker to help reduce your bad habits – using Shortcuts’ Open App automation. Here’s how it’s described on the App Store:

Willpower is not enough against social media algorithms!

That’s why I made one sec:

one sec adds friction to distracting apps to make them less appealing…long-term!

This principle works really well: we have gained scientific evidence in numerous research studies with the Max-Planck Institute, with the German and Danish government, and in dozens more scientific collaborations.

One Sec is offering three months free off with a monthly subscription, saving you $11.99 while giving you One Sec to try out for three months – here’s the summary:

Cut your screen time in half: one sec is the screen time app that truly works – scientifically. It helps you interrupt or block social media, apps, and websites using Shortcuts Automations.

My thanks to Frederik for participating – hope One Sec helps you with your Screen Time habits!

Learn more about the Membership, learn about One Sec,get One Sec on the App Store, or sign up for a membership below:

Check out the members-only Discounts page for One Sec’s redemption link to the App Store.

Interested in becoming a partner? Register your app or service here.

Categories
Apps Membership

New Member Discount: Get Cuevello 50% Off One-Time

Hello members (and future members)! I am excited to announce a new Partner addition to my Membership – Cuevello !

Built from developer Matthias Hühne, Cuevello for iPhone & iPad(and its Mac server) lets you remotely use your Mac apps on iPhone, iPad, or another Mac. Here’s how it’s described on the website:

Stream a monitor, app window, or selected Mac app to iOS with high-resolution video and optional Mac or app audio, then view, zoom, type, click, scroll, and run workflows when the Mac itself is somewhere else.

Cuevello is offering 50% off its one-time Pro Unlock: $4.49 instead of $8.99. The offer is available for six months, and the purchase has no renewal or recurring subscription – here’s the summary:

Cuevello integrates with Apple Shortcuts through App Intents. Saved Cuevello workflows appear as actions in the Shortcuts app and can run compatible Mac automations in the background. Workflows can combine menu commands, app actions, keyboard input, URLs, clipboard or prepared text, screenshots, and waits. Cuevello can also remotely launch existing macOS Shortcuts, allowing users to incorporate scripts, backups, Focus setups, and other Apple automations. Interactive steps may open Cuevello when user input or screen access is required.

My thanks to Matthias for participating – let me know how you’re using Cuevello!

Learn more about the Membership, learn about Cuevello,get Cuevello on the App Store, or sign up for a membership below:

Check out the members-only Discounts page for Cuevello’s redemption link to the App Store.

Interested in becoming a partner? Register your app or service here.

Categories
Apps Membership

New Member Discount: Get MindNode For 30% Off The First Year

Hello members (and future members)! I am excited to announce a new Partner addition to my Membership – MindNode!

Built from developer Markus Müller-Simhofer, MindNode for iPhone, iPad, Mac, & Apple Watchlets you visualize your thoughts as you brainstorm in a mind mapping environment – and contains a set of Shortcuts actions that I actually helped the team with in my client work. Here’s how it’s described on the App Store:

Your brain doesn’t think in straight lines. MindNode doesn’t force it to. Capture scattered thoughts, connect them in a mind map, and turn them into a clear outline, plan, or project structure.

MindNode is offering 3 months free off the annual subscription of $24.99/year, saving you ~$6.25 while giving you MindNode Premium for a full year – here’s the summary:

MindNode’s Shortcuts integration lets you capture ideas, create documents, and automate repetitive actions across your Apple devices. Build MindNode into your everyday workflows and turn quick thoughts into structured mind maps without interrupting your flow.

My thanks to Marcus & team for participating – I’ve used MindNode for years and years, and I was super thrilled to help with their Shortcuts support as well. I hope you enjoy it!

Learn more about the Membership, learn about MindNode,get MindNode on the App Store, or sign up for a membership below:

Check out the members-only Discounts page for MindNode’s redemption link to the App Store.

Interested in becoming a partner? Register your app or service here.

Categories
Apps Membership

New Member Discount: Get Tasks For 50% Off The Lifetime Purchase

Hello members (and future members)! I am excited to announce a new Partner addition to my Membership – Tasks!

Built from developer Mustafa Yusuf, Tasks for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch & Visionlets you track your to-dos in a great kanban interface – plus it has a huge set of Shortcuts actions. Here’s how it’s described on the App Store:

Start with a simple list, then grow into custom Kanban workflows, powerful automation, and effortless collaboration across your Apple devices.

Tasks is a flexible task manager built for Apple devices. Start with a simple to-do list, then add structure only when you ed it-with projects, subtasks, tags, priorities, custom statuses, Kanban boards, collaboration, and powerful automations.

Your work is rarely just “to do” or “done.” A task might be in progress, waiting, under review, or following a workflow unique to your team. Tasks lets you shape every project around the way you actually work, without overwhelming you upfront.

Tasks is offering 50% off the lifetime purchase of $99.99, saving you $49.99 while giving you Tasks forever – here’s the summary:

Unlock every premium feature in Tasks forever with a single purchase. No subscriptions, no recurring fees – just one payment and you’re set for life. (Includes Family Sharing!)

My special thanks to Mustafa for participating and being so generous with his offer – now go get your Tasks done!

Learn more about the Membership, learn about Tasks,get Tasks on the App Store, or sign up for a membership below:

Check out the members-only Discounts page for One Sec’s redemption link to the App Store.

Interested in becoming a partner? Register your app or service here.